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55
Marriage guidance
In accordance with its decision to give financial aid over a period of five years (commencing
in April, 1951), the Council agreed to make a grant to each of the three marriage
guidance organisations operating in London—the London Marriage Guidance Council,
the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and the Family Discussion Bureaux of the
Family Welfare Association—for the year ending March, 1953. The Council also agreed
to an expansion of the arrangements whereby the London Marriage Guidance Council
holds sessions in available accommodation at a number of welfare centres. A similar
facility was also granted to the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, who are commencing
to establish divisional centres.
Day
nurseries
Day nurseries and occasional creches
On 5th july, 1948, there were 114 municipal day nurseries and six voluntary day nurseries.
This number dropped to 111 municipal and six voluntary by June, 1951, when the first
annual review of day nursery accommodation was carried out. The guiding factor
of this review, and the subsequent annual reviews, was that the total day nursery provision
should remain substantially at the level then obtaining, with every effort being
made to secure full occupation within the limits imposed by the scheme of priorities
for admission. Any indication of redundancy has been kept constantly under review,
and where necessary day nurseries have been closed. The position following each
annual review was :
Number of day nurseries
Voluntary
Date L.C.C. (Grant aided) Total
At 30- 6-51 Ill 6 117
At 30- 6-52 106 6 112
At 31-12-52 105 6 111

The priorities and rules for admission to the day nurseries are as follows :
(1) (a) The first priority as regards admission to be given equally, subject to the
other rules, to the children (including adopted children) of:
(i) mothers who are widows, separated or divorced wives, or wives whose
husbands are totally disabled or in prison, or unmarried mothers, provided they are
maintaining an independent home and are employed at least 35 hours a week, including
meal times ;
(ii) parents where the mother is in ill-health and cannot care adequately for
the child, or during the mother's confinement;
(iii) parents who are living in housing conditions detrimental to health, or
where other environmental factors are such that it is desirable for the health of the
child that it should be admitted to a day nursery ; and
(iv) widowers, or where the mother has left the home.
(b) The second priority as regards admission to be given, subject to the other rules,
to the children of parents where, because the father is unemployed or his earnings are
so low, the mother is compelled to go to work as an economic necessity, providing
that in all cases the mother is employed at least 35 hours a week, including meal times.
(2) The divisional medical officer to have over-riding discretion to admit any other
cases presenting special features—any appeal from his decision to be considered by the
Chairman of the Divisional Health Committee.